What's the worst that happens washing in sunlight?

Sveta

Sveta

New member
Simple question...jokes OK, but seriously, what if you have NO CHOICE. What then? :nixweiss :usa
 
apart from the usual which is water the entire car thoroughly before lathering it up, work one panel at a time making sure to hose off before doing the next section.



only problems i have encountered have been water spots and streaking after not washing the suds away in an attempt to do the entire vehicle first lol. plus the fact that with the sun shining onto the paintwork and creating heat it really is NOT recommended, but if you must then good luck :D
 
K_Csaxo said:
the fact that with the sun shining onto the paintwork and creating heat....NOT recommended, :D
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Thanks,I understand the heat thing for wax, drying soap, softens paint, etc... but rain on the paint in the sunlight would be the same thing and hence "bad for the paint". Right? Maybe I'm misunderstanding.
 
I wash hundreds of cars in the sun and heat. Start with washing the side that is the shade first, then keep on washing the rest of the car while rewetting the car with your hose for not to let the soap to dry on the car.
 
Yes, keep the entire car wet through out the wash. I always spray the whole car again after I finish washing a section. That way the water doesn't have much of a chance to dry and cause spots.
 
TnM6i said:
Yes, keep the entire car wet through out the wash. I always spray the whole car again after I finish washing a section. That way the water doesn't have much of a chance to dry and cause spots.
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Das what I do and mine is black... also when you first wet it down start by misting it then progressively more water .. a direct shot of cold water on the windshield could cause thermal shock and make a small chip/flaw crack across the window.
 
MartyGrant said:
Thanks,I undrestand the heat thing for wax, etc... but rain on the paint in the sunlight would be the same thing and hence "bad for the paint". Right?
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hey marty, you mentioned rain on the pain in sunlight being bad....ask yourself a question...is the sun really that bright and hot when it rains on your car? ;)



welcome aboard
 
MartyGrant,



Rain water and tap water are not the same thing. If you were to rinse your car with tap water and let it dry in the sun you would have a major water spot problem. Not so with rain water. Many times it has rained on my car and the weather has cleared shortly after and the sun has come out while the car is covered in rain water. It dryed spot free
 
i kinda disagree with your statement stevet...as rain can be dirty, whereas tap water isn't hard everywhere and some people have water softeners.
 
luke667,



Yes some people have water softeners, I am talking about regular tap water. I know people with water softeners that don't dry their cars they just let it dry on it's own and don't have a problem with spotting. Try that with regular tap water and see what happens. I had a car that was parked at work for 8 hours on a hot summer day. The sprinkler system came on to water the grass and wet the trunk area of my car. Of course this baked in the sun for 8 hours. I cleaned off the spots as best I could with vinegar and it removed the deposits but the paint was etched.

I have never had this problem with rain water. If the rain water is dirty and leaves spots they just wash off the next time I wash the car, no etching of the paint.
 
luke667 said:
hey marty, you mentioned rain on the pain in sunlight being bad....ask yourself a question...is the sun really that bright and hot when it rains on your car? ;)



welcome aboard
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Thanks, luke667. Good to be aboard.

I'd say the climate in the UK is a tiny bit different then here in the desert Southwest of the US of A. Don't know about Malta's climate much. But here, it can and does "rain" AND "shine" at the same time. Means the devil is beating his wife. Rocky Mountain rain showers? You live where a '60 MGA needs that rain and fog to cool the "oil system". Where I live we have 300+ days of pure blue sunshine, a few dusty days, and only two months over 40 C. I usually wash at sunset. We don't own sweaters. Ya'll come down, see the sunsets, we'll Bar-B-Que brisket and eat Hatch green chili 'till smoke and fire comes out our ears!!! Seriously, you are welcome anytime. Thanks for the post,'Pard. ;) :brit :usa
 
I wash in the sun frequently as long it is not mid-day 95 degree day sun. My car is white, so it doesn't get hot. I just dry as I go :



Wash roof and windows, then dry

Wash hood and front end, then dry

Wash side not facing sun

Wash rear bumper and deck, then dry and dry side not facing sun

Wash side facing sun, quickly, then dry
 
the weather in new mexico sounds very similar to malta. I'm here in the uk sutdying at university, got 10 weeks left :D Been here 2 years and still haven;t gotten used to the weather here hehe
 
Jesstzn said:
Das what I do and mine is black... also when you first wet it down start by misting it then progressively more water .. a direct shot of cold water on the windshield could cause thermal shock and make a small chip/flaw crack across the window.
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I agree. The worst thing that could happen washing in sunlight is that you could easily crack a window.



Follow the good advice of Jesstzn and always "start by misting it then progressively more water".
 
stevet said:
MartyGrant,



Rain water and tap water are not the same thing.



If you were to rinse your car with tap water and let it dry in the sun you would have a major water spot problem. Not so with rain water. Many times it has rained on my car and the weather has cleared shortly after and the sun has come out while the car is covered in rain water. It dryed spot free
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Everything you say is true. Rarely does anything dry "spot free" down here. In this desert the rain and the micro-sand/dust it collects leaves something on the paint you wouldn't want either.

It can really make you cry when you realize you have to touch that stuff somehow to wash it off. Little patches and spots of micro sandpaper. Thankfully it seldom rains.



......WASHED CAR OFF TODAY...THANKS FOR THE POSTS...tiny marks here and there...BUT I GOT TO TRY VM with S100 on White 04 Accord!

I swear a couple of those micro swirls I saw came from that micro-gritty sand/dust all over the paint.

I liked the VM but wish I had used #7 after... then S100. I'm a rookie, but seems like #7 made the surface "perfect" last time. Did it "fill"? Can #7 go over VM? (Don't have any FP or 1Z MP...have SEC...)... I'm drifting....THANKS AGAIN.

Pictures if I can tomorrow. I'm happy. :) :usa
 
Washing in the sunlight is fine if you dry it as soon as you're done, just don't wax, polish or anything else in the sun, or if the paint surface is warm.
 
Murph1083 said:
if i wax in the sun.......its is impossible to get the baked wax off
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:nixweiss Depends on the wax, I guess. I've used American Shine's Carnauba on a black Explorer at straight up noon on a 95 degree day and it wiped off with no effort.
 
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